DAVE Challinor always insisted beating Eastleigh was more important than last weekend’s FA Cup tie at Oxford.

And so it proved. After losing to the League One side on Saturday, Pools saw off National League opposition at Victoria Park.

They had to do it and, after the most abysmal of opening 45 minutes, they stepped up their game following a half-time rollocking by the manager and found a way to win.

“We needed that win, a massive three points with us being the only game tonight. It was a big opportunity for us,’’ said the manager. “It wasn’t a great night for football, the most difficult element to cope with.

“Our lot decided first-half to give people 45 minutes off. I got a bit of a sweat on at half-time shouting at them. We were netter second half.

“Tonight was a difficult game anyway. They are decimated with transfers and injuries and brought a depleted side here, which made it more imperative we won.’’

The first half passed by without incident, any incident of note.

It was windy. Eastleigh had a player booked for a cynical foul. In injury time a shot by Ryan Donaldson was straight into keeper Max Stryjeck.

And that was it.

The wind continued, the football livened up.

Pools took the lead on 51 minutes. Donaldson crossed and keeper Stryjck flapped at the ball. It landed for Gavan Holohan and the midfielder was composed as he rolled home his eighth goal of the season.

The lead didn’t last long, less than 60 seconds in fact.

From the kick-off, Eastleigh broke away and took advantage of space as Sam Smart smartly angled his finish across keeper Mitchell Beeney high into the net.

Pools almost nabbed a quick second. Nicke Kabamba’s header was kept out by a combination of Stryjek and defender Alex Wynter.

Donaldson was having some joy on the right side, linking up positively with Peter Kioso. From another ball across goal, Kabamba missed his connection under pressure and appeals for a penalty before Holohan blasted the ball into the Town End.

A flowing move brought a reward and another Pools advantage.

Holohan delightfully skipped and danced his way down the left side and fed the overlapping Mark Kitching. He picked his man out in the area with a measured pass and Mark Shelton made no mistake.

Fraser Kerr headed the long ball from kick-off away and Pools survived this one.

Challinor added: “Mark took his goal well, he’s done really well over the last few years and a bad injury at Salford has set him back a bit. They have high expectations as a club of where they want to go. I hope we can keep him here longer and we have had positive talks with Salford on that.

“He’s the type of midfielder in ability, box to box, scoring goals who can be a really important player for us.’’

Pools should have had a third within a minute of their second. Donaldson chased a seemingly lost cause down the right, crossed tight on the byline. The ball fell for Gus Mafuta, who smashed against the crossbar from eight yards.

Pools’ keeper Beeney wasn’t convincing in the area. He punched away a ball he could have caught, stayed on his line when Gary Liddle was hoping he would come for the ball and then when he hesitated again, it was took much for Kioso who let him know what he thought of his inactivity.

Myles Anderson, back from a loan spell at Aldershot, replaced Fraser Kerr on 75 minutes. Kerr himself was an early replacement for the injured Michael Raynes, who could be out for a number of weeks with a muscle injury.

Pools were without striker Gime Toure for the game. He accepted a three-game FA suspension after he was caught on camera sending a flailing arm into an Oxford defender during Saturday’s FA Cup tie.

He will also miss the trips to Dover and Yeovil.

Challinor admitted: “Gime has let players down, I’m disappointed and angry. It’s frustrating in the fact I had no idea what we going on and we trained and planned for him to start. To find out at five o’clock last night to find out then it leaves us having to change.

“It’s unacceptable. I want players to be aggressive in what they do, but we have to be disciplined in what we do. He’s let everyone down. I’m unhappy shall I say.’’